Fairplay Bead & Fiber Show

My display at the Fairplay Bead and Fiber Show

This past weekend I sold my handmade polymer beads at the 7th annual Fairplay Bead and Fiber show in Fairplay, Colorado. The foot traffic was steady all day Saturday, with a mix of beaders as well as non-beading tourists looking for gifts to take home. I did pretty well in selling my beads to people who appreciated the organic, vintage look and had good feedback from people.

The weather is fast changing in Fairplay, you always have to have your eye on the sky when at an outdoor event. The weather stayed really nice all day Saturday, and a rainy downpour only happened after the show was over for the day. The attendance dropped off significantly on Sunday as the weather was more threatening, but the good sales on Saturday made the show well worth doing and I hope to be back next year!

Busy Making Polymer Beads

Building up stock for my bead display

I'm very busy making lots of polymer beads for the August 9-10, 2008 bead show in Fairplay, Colorado. My signature beads are faux ivory made from my own designs featuring birds, fish, horses, rabbits, and more. I will also have some mokume gane beads to add some color to the neutrality of the ivory.

I may have the smallest display at the bead show. I have no tent and plan on bringing just two 4 foot tables. It all has to fit in my Prius! I am somewhat ready for rain despite the lack of shelter, I will bring plastic to cover my tables with and a raincoat and umbrella. I will be at a disadvantage if it rains, compared to everyone else who will have a canopy tent for people to duck into, but that's ok, the rain doesn't usually last long. I am keeping it simple this year, and if I do well, I'll buy a tent for future outdoor shows.

Fairplay Bead & Fiber Show

Front Street where the bead show will take place.

I took a driving trip over the weekend to Fairplay, Colorado, the site of the Fairplay Bead & Fiber Show on August 9-10, 2008. This is an annual outdoor event put on by lampwork bead artist Pat Pocius. Fairplay is 85 miles southwest of Denver, and 28 miles south of Breckenridge.

Pat Pocius' South Park Pottery, Bead Store and Lampwork Studio

I got a booth and will be there selling my polymer beads. So far I am the only polymer bead maker to sign up. If you are in the area, stop by! I'll have a full report of the show and how it went.